REP. MARINO’S WEEKLY WRAPUP – JULY 22, 2011

July 22, 2011

MAJOR VOTES THIS WEEK:

HR2560: Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011
SUMMARY: Cuts total spending by $111 billion in fiscal year 2012; caps spending over the next 10 years; requires the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment before raising the nation’s debt limit
PASSED: 234-190, July 19
MARINO: Yes

HR

1315: The Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act
SUMMARY: This legislation replaces the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) with a five-member, presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed Commission. It streamlines the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s (FSOC) review of CFPB regulations that may raise safety and soundness concerns by changing the vote required to set aside regulations from two-thirds to a simple majority; lifts the strict time limits for the FSOC to review and vote on regulations, allowing the FSOC to take the time necessary to fully consider the consequences of regulations.
PASSED: 241-173, July 21
MARINO: Yes

HR33: The Church Plan Investment Clarification Act
SUMMARY: The bill amends the Securities Act of 1933 (PL 73-22) to allow church pension plans to join other pension plans in a collective trust fund to invest in stocks and other financial instruments.
PASSED: 310-1, July 18
MARINO: Yes

HR2553: The Airport and Airway Extension Act
SUMMARY: This bill provides for a temporary extension for eight weeks of certain authorities of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will expire July 22 under current law.
PASSED: 243-177, July 20
MARINO: Yes

H.R. 2551, The Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY 2012
SUMMARY: The bill would provide a total of $3.32 billion in discretionary budget authority for all non-Senate Legislative Branch activities, which is $227 million or 6.4 percent below FY 2011 levels and $471.7 million or 12.4 percent below the president’s requested level. Included in this is another cut to Congressional office budgets, this one is an additional 6.4 percent.
PASSED: 252-159
MARINO: Yes

HJRES 66: Approves Renewal of Import Restrictions Against Burma
SUMMARY: The measure approves the renewal of the restrictions originally enacted under the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act
PASSED: By a voice vote

COMMITTEE WORK:
Foreign Affairs:
This week Rep. Marino worked tirelessly for more than 36 hours with his colleagues in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to pass H.R. 2583, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2012. This bill cuts America’s foreign aid spending, mandates reform in the nation’s foreign programs, and enhances U.S. national security abroad. Rep. Marino supported bipartisan efforts to limit U.S. foreign assistance to the Palestinian Authority; help prevent human trafficking; encourage freedom of speech and religion; and protect Americans’ intellectual property rights abroad. However, he resisted Democratic efforts to amend language in the underlying legislation that would have allowed for taxpayer funding of abortions in foreign nations.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
• On Tuesday, Rep. Marino and about 20 House Republican freshman colleagues went to the White House to demand that President Obama show the American people his deficit-reduction plan. The President has still failed to outline for the American people any plan to reduce the debt and deficit.